Freefall

0

Snow in the forecast

Posted at 4:57 pm

We could see 1 to 3 inches of new snow overnight. Freefall opened from the top today, and I had to ski it. I could see a sweet drift at the top of Freefall from the Madonna I Lift as I rode past. The drift was on skier’s left, and it was a beautiful spine. I was just jumping from one side of the drift to the other over the spine. Freefall stayed open from the top for most of the day but is now open from the traverse on Upper FIS. The 21 inches of new snow that we have received in the past 5 days has made for some great skiing and riding. Tomorrow, we plan to have top-to-bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have 75 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 34 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Upper FIS, Thomke’s, Snow Snake, Ruthie’s, Garden Path, and Snake Bite, for a total of 137 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 14 to 40 inches. Birch Run and Knight’s Revenge Terrain Park are both open. Currently, it is cloudy and 15 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for a chance of flurries early, then skies becoming sunny with a high of 14 degrees at the base and 5 degrees at higher elevations. Bundle up and enjoy the wonderful conditions!

Upper Chilcoot
The Madonna I Lift
Getting fresh tracks on Upper Madonna Liftline
0

Another day in paradise

Posted at 10:55 am

Currently, it is partly sunny and 20 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies early with increasing clouds later in the day, a high of 29 degrees at the base and 26 degrees at higher elevations. We have top-to-bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including Madonna I Lift. We have 67 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. 27 trails have been groomed for today, including Chilcoot, Black Snake, and Midway, for a total of 112 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and machine groomed with average base depths of 16 to 40 inches. We are presently making snow on Hibernator, Log Jam, and Dixie’s Knoll.

Sterling and Mount Mansfield seen from Madonna Mountain
0

More open terrain

Posted at 10:46 am
Upper Madonna Liftline
The Madonna I Lift

Freefall is open from the top. The Headwall, Bermuda, Knight’s Revenge, and Shakedown are also open. Sterling Mountain is 100 percent open! 4 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 13 inches in the past 4 days. The conditions are just fantastic!

0

Great conditions

Posted at 4:23 pm

Wow-what a fun day! I found many powder stashes throughout the day and also had a great run on Freefall.

We received 2 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 19 inches in the past 3 days. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 5 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We now have 70 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. 19 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 85 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 12 to 46 inches. Tonight we plan to make snow on Black Snake and Snake Bite. Currently, it is cloudy and 12 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of snow showers and a high of 23 degrees.

Madonna Liftline
This traverse from Upper FIS will bring you to Freefall and the Black Hole
Heading to the Upper Mountains
Sign at the top of Catwalk
0

Great conditions

Posted at 5:08 pm
Winter Wonderland
A smiling face in their happy place
Pat takes flight
Upper Chilcoot
Snowdrift on Madonna Mountain. The ski poles are 50 inches in length

The 5 inches of new snow that we received today was nice and dense. It allowed us to open Freefall from the top and the Headwall of Madonna Liftline. My first run of the day was on Smugglers’ Alley. It was groomed early last night, which allowed the snowfall to build up on top of the groomed snow overnight. It was a nice and flat with 4 inches of fresh on top this morning. It was so much fun to float on top of the heavier snow. I had the pleasure of riding the Sterling Lift with a long time Smuggs family member “George of the Jungle.” Thanks George for the great conversation and laughs. This afternoon I ran into my good friend Pat. We had a great time on Thomke’s, Black Snake, Practice Slope, and Snake Bite. We were able to find some great loose powder on the side of the trail to play in. Pat decided to catch some pretty big air on the “neck” of the Practice Slope. His photo is seen above.

Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 77 out of 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 30 trails tonight, including Ruthie’s, Wanderer, and Thomke’s for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain. We received 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 36 inches in the past 5 days. Currently, it is snowing and 28 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies, flurries and a snow shower with a high of 35 degrees.

0

100 percent open

Posted at 8:46 am
1
2
3
4

This series of photos is Ski Patroller Jeff Wentzel doing trail check on Freefall.

8 inches of new snow overnight, 22 inches in the past 24 hours, and 29 inches in the past 3 days. Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with all 8 lifts operating. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Freefall is open from the traverse on Upper FIS. Upper Madonna Liftline is open from Catwalk down to Robin’s Run work road. Surface conditions are powder and packed powder with average base depths of 16 to 54 inches. The wind moved the snow around last night if you get my drift. 36 trails have been groomed for today, including Snow Snake, Playground, and Jolly Rodger for a grand total of 142 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Currently, it is partly sunny and 0 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 1 to 5 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a high of 8 degrees. Dress warm and enjoy the amazing conditions!

0

Winter Wonderland

Posted at 5:14 pm
Mike Timbers having fun on Upper FIS

We received 3 to 5 inches of new snow in the past 24 hours and 13 inches in the past 3 days. The new snow allowed us to open some natural snow trails like Robin’s Run, Black Hole, Freefall from the traverse, Upper Madonna Liftline from the top down to Catwalk, Thomke’s Express, and Black Bear. I skied Upper Madonna Liftline and Freefall this morning. They were both fantastic! These trails saw a good bit of traffic today and some closed before the end of the day. The snow in the forecast tonight might allow us to reopen some of these tomorrow. We are presently making snow on Upper FIS and we plan to continue through the night. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna I Lift. We have 37 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are packed powder and powder with average base depths of 12 to 48 inches. 21 out of the 37 trails will be groomed for tomorrow, including Smugglers’ Alley for a grand total of 92 acres of freshly groomed terrain. Tonight’s forecast is calling for snow showers with 1 to 2 inches of accumulation possible. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for partly sunny skies with a slight chance of a snow shower and a high of 35 degrees.

Smugglers’ Notch Distillery Tasting tomorrow at the Village Pizzeria from 5 pm till 8 pm. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery® provides spirits worthy of the cause. Using the finest ingredients blended with pristine Vermont spring water, they make, barrel age, blend, and hand-bottle remarkably distinctive, award-winning spirits one small batch at a time. Stop by the Village Pizzeria for tastings and sales promoting cocktails that are or can be made at Bootleggers’ Lounge.

0

Today is the last day of lift operations on Morse Mountain this season

Posted at 9:31 am

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Fist bump to celebrate a great run

Lifts and Trails

Today we have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 4 lifts operating, including the Madonna I lift. We have 65 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are machine groomed and spring conditions with average base depths of 18 to 48 inches. 26 trails have been groomed for today, that’s 120 acres of freshly groomed terrain. The Black Hole and Freefall are now open from the traverse on Upper FIS.

Weather

Currently it is partly cloudy and 34 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 10 mph. Today’s forecast is calling for partly cloudy skies with temperatures between 35 and 50 degrees.

0

Spring conditions

Posted at 3:55 pm

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Snow Sport University Ski Instructor Justin Falkenburg at the summit of Madonna with his class

Today the temperature got up to 41 degrees at the summit of Sterling. Everything was softening up and was skiing well.  The Headwall was open, Freefall was open from the top, and Madonna Liftline was open from Catwalk. I ran into my good friends Lenny and Nikki this afternoon. We took a few runs on Madonna together. We started off with a cruiser run on Upper Chilcoot. Nikki skied Waterfall for the first time and did great!

 

Lifts and Trails

We are 100 percent open. Tomorrow we plan to have top to bottom skiing and riding on all 3 mountains with 6 lifts operating, including the Madonna 1 Lift. We have all 78 trails open with terrain for all ability levels. Surface conditions are spring conditions and machine-groomed with average base depths of 24 to 54 inches. We plan to groom 28 trails tonight, including Chilcoot, Dixie’s Knoll, and Black Snake for a grand total of 125 acres of freshly groomed terrain.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Nikki skiing Upper Chilcoot

Weather

Currently it is cloudy and 38 degrees at the summit of Sterling with winds of 5 to 15 mph. Tomorrow’s forecast is calling for cloudy skies with a chance of mix with temperatures between 34 and 49 degrees.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Snow Sport University Ski Instructor Matt McCawley gap jumping from drift to drift on Upper Chilcoot